Story Artist - Feature

confidential; United States; On-site; USD 74,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits per union agreement

Job summary

Sony Pictures Animation in Los Angeles is seeking a Story Artist to translate scripts into storyboard panels and lead visual storytelling. You will draft thumbnails through finished boards, pitch to directors, and help shape action, humor, and pacing across sequences.

The role emphasizes strong drawing, writing, and collaboration in a fast-paced production environment, with union benefits and opportunities to influence style and storytelling choices.

Qualifications

• Robust draftsmanship with design, appeal and composition.
• Ability to work on action, comedy and drama in multiple styles.
• Strong writing and storytelling abilities.
• Character acting sensibilities; convey personality and movement.
• Staging, composition and cinematography skills.
• Ability to draw characters/environments in show style.
• Write clear, specific directions on storyboards.
• Time management; work independently in a fast-paced production.
• Open to direction; strong interpersonal teamwork.
• Familiarity with Cintiq, Toon Boom Storyboard Pro and Photoshop.

Responsibilities

• Develop storyboards from script to depict action, camera, acting.
• Draw quick sketches to finished storyboard panels.
• Pitch storyboards to director and crew.
• Create innovative ideas with performance, action and humor.
• Draw boards for sequences and revise as needed.
• Ensure vision and style are adhered to through action and dialogue.
• Address story and structure problems.
• Value artists who improve entertainment value.
• Supervise story team; conduct interviews and provide feedback.

Skills

Draftsmanship

Versatility

Strong writing

Character acting

Staging & Cinematography

Character drawing

Storyboard directions

Time management

Team player

Receptive to direction

Storyboard tools

Tools

Cintiq

Toon Boom Storyboard Pro

Photoshop

Job description

SUMMARY:

Story Artists work with a team of the Directors, Producers, and Head of Story to create a visual representation of the animation's narrative. These artists translate the script into pictures by producing a series of panels of drawings that plan out the film’s story, action, humor, continuity and pacing. This is a union covered position. Sony Pictures Animation is an animation studio based in Los Angeles, California, creating both feature animation and animated series with artists from around the world. We pride ourselves on empowering filmmakers to lead the creative process and allowing the hand of the artist to be truly felt, with the goal of producing bold and innovative visual storytelling.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Working from a script or descriptions, develop storyboards (thumbnail/rough storyboard panels) that depict the action, camera placement and acting of sequences.
• Draw everything from quick sketches to finished detailed storyboard panels.
• Pitch storyboards to the director, head of story, crew, and executives.
• Discover and create innovative ideas with performance, action, and humor.
• Draw storyboards for assigned sequences and revise, edit, and modify sketches as many times as needed.
• Ensure that the vision and style of the show is consistently adhered to through execution of action, staging, dialogue and camera.
• Address story and structure problems.
• We especially value artists that can improve entertainment value!.
• Supervision of the story team, including conducting interviews, making hiring recommendations, and providing feedback to Artists throughout the production.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Robust draftsmanship with a sense of design, appeal and composition.
• Ability to work on a range of projects (action, comedy and drama sequences) and in a variety of styles from comic to realistic and highly stylized.
• Great writing skills.
• Strong character acting sensibilities; able to convey personality, emotion, and movement.
• Strong staging, composition and cinematography skills.
• Capable of drawing characters and environments on model within show style.
• Ability to write clear and specific directions on storyboards to communicate with the team.
• Can manage time efficiently and work independently.
• Work creatively in a fast paced production environment.
• Must be open to direction and able to embrace change.
• Self motivated, good interpersonal skills, and an excellent teammate with a phenomenal outlook.
• Knowledge of software and hardware including Cintiq, Toon Boom Storyboard Pro and Photoshop.

The anticipated base salary for this position is $ 53.37 /hour to $80/hour. This role qualifies for benefits pursuant to the collective bargaining agreement. The actual salary offered will depend on a variety of factors.

Sony Pictures Animation is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.